A Leadership Devotional
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage…” — Joshua 1:9 (KJV)
“…but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” — 1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV)
Leadership is often discussed in terms of vision, competence and strategy. But there are moments when the defining requirement of leadership is courage.
Joshua and David encountered such moments.
Joshua stood before a Jordan. Moses was dead, leadership had passed to him, and an uncertain territory lay ahead.
David stood before a burning Ziklag. His city had been destroyed, families taken captive, and his own men were talking about stoning him.
Joshua faced the fear of what was ahead. David faced the pain of what had happened behind him.
Both discovered that sometimes courage is no longer an admirable quality. It becomes a command.
When You Must Arise
God said to Joshua:
“Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan…” — Joshua 1:2 (KJV)
There is enormous depth in “now therefore arise.”
Joshua could honour the past, but he could not live in it. A chapter had closed and responsibility had arrived.
Every leader encounters a moment when reflection must give way to action.
There is a time to grieve and analyse. But there is also a time to arise.
Courage is knowing when that time has come.
When You Must Encourage Yourself
David’s crisis was deeply personal:
“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him…” — 1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV)
The people who should have strengthened him had turned against him.
This is one of leadership’s hardest realities: sometimes the leader must find strength before the people can find theirs.
David had wept, but he refused to allow grief to become paralysis.
“…but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”
There are seasons when encouragement will not come from the team, colleagues, friends or public applause. The leader must know where to go when human encouragement disappears.
David went back to his God.
That is not positive thinking. It is spiritual anchorage.
Courage Is Not Recklessness
After strengthening himself, David asked:
“Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them?” — 1 Samuel 30:8 (KJV)
David had every emotional reason to pursue immediately, yet he first sought God’s direction.
Courage says, “I will act.”
Wisdom asks, “What action should I take?”
God answered:
“Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.” — 1 Samuel 30:8 (KJV)
The courageous leader does not simply move quickly. The courageous leader moves rightly.
Every Leader Has a Jordan and a Ziklag
Joshua had a Jordan to cross.
David had a Ziklag to recover from.
The Jordan represents the challenge in front of us.
Ziklag represents the devastation behind us.
The question at the Jordan is:
Will I cross?
The question at Ziklag is:
Will I rise again?
Both require courage.
Sometimes the greatest act of courage is not beginning something new. It is finding the strength to begin again.
Courage Must Become Action
Joshua heard God’s command and mobilised the people.
David heard God’s direction and pursued:
“So David went…” — 1 Samuel 30:9 (KJV)
Those three words contain a leadership principle.
There comes a moment when we must stop studying the Jordan and cross it.
There comes a moment when we must stop staring at the ashes of Ziklag and pursue recovery.
Prayer must produce direction.
Direction must produce decision.
Decision must produce action.
The Source of Courage
God’s promise to Joshua was not the absence of battles. It was:
“…for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” — Joshua 1:9 (KJV)
David’s strength came from the same source:
“…David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” — 1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV)
Our confidence is not that everybody will support us or that the road will be easy.
Our confidence is that God is with us.
Leadership Reflection
What is the Jordan before me that I must cross?
What is the Ziklag behind me from which I must recover?
What decision has fear or disappointment delayed?
And what would I do today if I truly believed that the Lord my God is with me wherever I go?
Prayer
Father, give me courage for the responsibility before me. When I face my Jordan, help me to cross. When I stand before the ashes of Ziklag, give me strength to rise again. Teach me to encourage myself in You, seek Your direction and obey when You speak. Give me courage without recklessness, confidence without pride, and action guided by wisdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Final Thought
When God says “Arise,” yesterday cannot hold you.
When God says “Go over,” the Jordan cannot stop you.
When God says “Pursue,” Ziklag cannot define you.
And when God says “Be strong and of a good courage,”
courage is no longer an option. It has become a command.